Locking Means for a Body Jewellery and Body Comprising Such Locking Means

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a locking mechanism which is adapted to constitute part of an item of body jewellery. The locking mechanism comprises a holder having at least one opening to be passed by an end portion of a bar of said item of body jewellery and, separately arranged therefor, an insert received in the holder and having a hole. The insert is operable relative to the holder between a first and a second position by applying a pressure to the insert. The opening of the holder and the hole of the insert together define in the first position a recess into which the end portion of the bar is insertable. In the second position the holder and the insert cooperate with the end portion of the bar for locking the same when inserted in the recess.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a locking means adapted to constitute part of an item of body jewellery and an item of body jewellery which comprises such a locking means.

BACKGROUND ART

A very frequent type of body jewellery comprises a bar which is adapted to be passed through a wearer's skin portion, for example adjacent to a navel. The item of body jewellery comprises at one end a member, often in the form of an item of jewellery, which is fixedly connected to the bar, and at its other end a detachable locking means. The locking means usually is a ball which is adapted to be threaded onto the bar. Examples of this type of prior art body jewellery are disclosed in GB 2 381 183A, U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,850 and US2005/0005643A1.

A number of different tools are available for piercing ear lobes. The tools are operated mainly by a piece of ear jewellery with a sharp pin being pressed through the ear lobe directly into a locking means. This locking means then secures, by friction and/or by means of a leaf spring, the locking means to the bar of the piece of ear jewellery. The locking means is not very firmly fixed, but since the piece of ear jewellery is usually not subjected to any great forces, this force is enough to hold the locking means and thus the piece of ear jewellery in place. The same type of locking means is also used for pieces of ear jewellery for ear lobes that are already healed.

Piercing of other body parts occurs manually in most cases by an operator pinching the skin in the area of the body, for example around the navel, in which piercing is to take place. Subsequently the bar of the item of body jewellery, which bar at one end is provided with a cannula, is pressed through the skin. After piercing, the cannula is removed, after which the locking means is threaded onto the bar. Examples of this method are disclosed in the above mentioned US 2005/0005643A1. Piercing may also take place in two steps, where a first step comprises piercing by means of a cannula which is pressed through the part of the body and where the second step comprises inserting the bar through the hole formed, often simultaneously with removal of the cannula from the part of the body.

The reason why the locking means is threaded onto items of body jewellery, and is not fixed, like the locking means in piercing of ear lobes, substantially by friction is that items of body jewellery are often subjected to considerably more forces than pieces of ear jewellery. Items of body jewellery are often placed in plane skin, which results in the locking means being subjected to pressure exerted by stretched skin. In addition, items of body jewellery are often placed in positions on the wearer's body that are more subjected to forces than pieces of ear jewellery. A piece of ear jewellery hangs in relative piece, while, for example, a piece of navel jewellery is subjected to forces exerted by clothing and by the wearer moving, for instance bending over.

In piercing and inserting items of body jewellery, for instance in a navel, different lengths between the entry and the exit hole in the skin may arise due to a varying body configuration and skin. Therefore items of body jewellery with different free lengths of the bar are necessary. By free length is meant the distance between the members arranged at the ends of the bar, of which at least one member is a locking means. This means that the operator must have sterile items of jewellery with different free lengths ready in connection with piercing. Should the operator make a misjudgment and insert an item of body jewellery with too short or too long a free length, there is risk that the item of body jewellery has to be exchanged almost immediately after piercing, which increases the risk of infection and causes pain and discomfort in the person who has been pierced.

Piercing and insertion of the item of body jewellery involve a process that places strict demands on hygiene to avoid or reduce the risk of infection. In piercing, like in all surgical operations, it is therefore desirable to apply aseptic handling. By asepsis is meant a process and technique which aim at preventing occurrence and spreading of pathogenic microorganisms. This means, inter alia, that the operator during the operation should avoid contact with the body part and the surrounding area. This is, however, made difficult by the construction of prior art items of body jewellery, in which the locking means, which often is small, is to be threaded onto the bar.

When using items of body jewellery, it is always desirable for the free length of the bar to be adjusted to the length of the skin portion in which it is located, that is adjusted to the distance between the entry and the exit hole in the skin. In connection with piercing and subsequent healing, this is particularly important. The desired free length of the bar is slightly greater than the distance between the entry and the exit hole so that air may reach the holes for optimal healing conditions. If the bar is too short, the item of body jewellery pinches the skin, resulting in irritation and impeded healing. If the bar is too long so that the item of body jewellery projects too much from the wearer's body, the bar will get caught in clothes and move a great deal, which increases the risk that the item of body jewellery should migrate out of the body, that is that the wearer's body rejects the item of body jewellery. The problem is that the desired free length of the bar changes during the healing process. In the days after piercing, the pierced area swells and there is a risk that the free length of the used item of body jewellery is too small. After about one week, the swelling should have gone down and then there is a risk that the free length of the bar is too great instead. During the subsequent healing process, it is common for the distance between the entry and the exit hole to decrease further in length, which means that the free length of the bar will be too great. With traditional items of body jewellery with one single possible free length of the bar, the selection of an item of body jewellery will therefore be a compromise, unless the entire bar is exchanged during the healing process, the compromise resulting in an increased risk of a less successful healing process.

Since the desired free length may vary during the healing process, it will be necessary to replace the item of body jewellery with one with a longer or shorter free length of the bar. Also after healing, it will be necessary to exchange the item of body jewellery since most users more or less frequently want to exchange their item of jewellery for aesthetic reasons.

When exchanging an ordinary item of body jewellery, the locking means must be threaded off, after which the bar can be pulled out and replaced with a new one which is inserted through the hole. During such a procedure, the threaded end of the bar must be pulled out of the hole, with the risk that the threaded portion may injure the body part and cause a wound and, consequently, increase the risk of infection. This is particularly delicate if an incompletely healed, or healed but still sensitive, part of the wearer's body is involved. In particular this is a problem during healing since in most cases the bar then needs to be replaced one or more times with respect to the distance between the entry and the exit hole in the skin changing and, thus, the desired length of the bar changing.

The risks in conjunction with exchange of items of body jewellery vary depending on the type of jewellery which is used and where on the wearer's body it is positioned. An item of navel jewellery preferably has a bent bar which extends through a substantially plane skin portion, which means that the risk of injury in connection with removal and insertion of a bar can be considered great. If besides the surface of the bar end is not even, but threaded, the risk will be even greater. This can be compared with a piece of ear jewellery which is inserted through a straight hole in a well-defined skin flap, in which case the risk of injuring the skin in connection with removal and insertion of a new bar is usually smaller.

There are items of body jewellery with an internal thread, by which is meant that the bar at one or both ends has a hole with an internal thread. The locking means is then provided with a threaded pin which can be screwed into the threaded hole of the bar end. Even if the risk of injuring the wearer's body part when inserting and removing the bar has thus been reduced compared with the use of a bar with an external thread, there is still a risk of injuring the wearer's body part when exchanging the item of body jewellery. In addition, these items of body jewellery suffer from the drawback that they are expensive to manufacture.

A further drawback of prior art items of body jewellery is that inexperienced users may feel uncomfortable when exchanging the item of body jewellery since this means that the old item of jewellery and its bar must usually be removed, after which a new one has to be inserted through the hole.

In the cases where also the locking means forms a decoration, it may also be difficult to orient it correctly relative to the bar if the decoration is intended to be oriented in a certain position relative to the wearer's body part. Moreover, great requirements are placed on the design of the thread, which affects the cost of the item of body jewellery.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a locking means which is intended for items of body jewellery, which allow good hygiene above all in the piercing process, but also in the subsequent healing process.

Another object is to provide a locking means for items of body jewellery which is easy to mount and replace.

A further object is that the user should be able to exchange the actual jewellery part of the item of body jewellery without having to exchange the bar that extends through the skin portion.

Yet another object is to provide a locking means which allows easy positioning in an item of body jewellery.

Yet another object is to provide a locking means which allows easy adjustment of the free length of the bar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above objects and additional objects not mentioned, which will be evident from the following description, the present invention according to claim 1 concerns a locking means for an item of body jewellery and according to claim 13 an item of body jewellery which comprises such a locking means.

In conjunction with the invention, the term item of body jewellery means an item of the type that is arranged in a skin portion or mucous membrane in such a manner that a first and a second end portion of the penetrating part of the item of body jewellery, usually a bar, are arranged outside the skin portion or mucous membrane. The item of body jewellery is not restricted to a special part of the body.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a locking means which is adapted to constitute part of an item of body jewellery. The locking means is characterised by a holder having at least one opening to be passed by an end portion of a bar of said item of body jewellery and, separately arranged therefor, an insert received in the holder and having a hole, which insert is operable relative to the holder between a first and a second position by applying a pressure to the insert, the opening of the holder and the hole of the insert in said first position together defining a recess, into which said end portion of a bar of said item of body jewellery is insertable, and the holder and the insert in said second position cooperating with said end portion for locking the same when inserted in the recess.

The inventive locking means results in a number of advantages. The locking means may be resembled to a snap fastening mechanism, in which the insert is operable relative to the holder to form a recess through which an end portion of the bar of the item of body jewellery can be inserted and be locked. Such a locking means can easily be mounted by a linear motion relative to the bar, either directly with the operator's hand or indirectly via a gripping means in the form of, for example, a sterile disposable pair of pliers. Thus, less experience and dexterity of the operator are required since the step of fastening a locking means by threading is eliminated. At the same time the necessary contact with the pierced area, but also with the bar, is minimised, thus also reducing the risk of infection and transfer of infectious matter. The risk of infection and transfer of infectious matter exists between the operator and the person being pierced and vice versa. This is particularly important if the locking means is to be arranged on an item of body jewellery immediately after piercing or during the subsequent healing process. Also mounting of such a locking means on an item of body jewellery in an already healed body part is facilitated.

The inventive locking means also results in an advantage during the healing process as the length of the skin in which the bar is positioned first increases due to swelling and subsequently gradually decreases. The free length of the bar should therefore be adjusted regularly during the healing process. With prior art technique this usually occurs by the existing item of body jewellery and its bar being removed and replaced with a new one. This need is eliminated by the invention since the inventive locking means can be gradually displaced relative to the bar by a linear motion and locked relative to the same. This eliminates the risk of injuring an incompletely healed tissue.

Moreover, the operator needs only items of body jewellery with one length of bar since the desired free length of the bar can always, by the inventive locking means, be obtained and adjusted after the piercing process. Thus the operator does not run the risk of selecting an incorrect bar length and after piercing being forced to replace the entire item of body jewellery, including the bar, or alternatively taking a chance and hoping for the healing to work well although the bar length is not the desired one.

If the locking means, or parts thereof, is designed as an item of jewellery, it will be sufficient to replace the actual locking means to exchange the item of jewellery, instead of, like in the items of body jewellery available on the market, both the bar and the associated locking means having to be replaced. Since the actual bar need not be replaced, the risk of injuring the pierced skin portion is reduced, and thus also the risk of an infection. Furthermore, the inventive locking means causes less discomfort and greater flexibility. For those who are to keep such items of body jewellery in stock and sell them, it means that they only need one item of each model of body jewellery to be kept in stock and not as with traditional body jewellery, where a plurality of one and the same model of body jewellery with different lengths of the bar have to be kept in stock.

Moreover, the inventive locking means allows easy positioning of the locking means relative to the bar by the possibility of the locking means being moved into exact locking engagement with the bar both longitudinally and circumferentially. This is advantageous in the cases where the locking means comprises or constitutes part of an item of jewellery which is designed to be viewed in a certain direction.

The insert may be spring biased towards its second position, thus facilitating its handling.

The insert may comprise at least one hook for engagement with said end portion. The use of a hook results in a very simple and yet reliable locking effect.

The hook is arranged for locking engagement with recesses that are complementary to the hook and arranged in said end portion. By the recesses being complementary to the hook, an increased stability between the locking means and the bar is achieved.

The hook may also be arranged for aligning engagement with said recesses that are complementary to the hook. The aligning engagement prevents the locking means from being turned relative to the bar in its locked engagement, which results in a safe and reliable orientation of the locking means relative to the bar. This is very favourable in the cases where the locking means comprises an item of jewellery which is intended to be viewed in a certain direction.

The end portion of the bar may comprise an axially extending bevel. By cooperation between such a bevel and a surface formed in the insert and adapted, in locking, to abut against the bar, guiding of the locking means in the circumferential direction around the bar is obtained, which enables orientation of the locking means in a desired position relative to the bar. Such a surface of the insert may have the shape of a hook for instance. Guiding in the circumferential direction is of interest in the cases where the locking means has a decoration which is adapted to take a certain position relative to the body part. A safety function is also achieved, in which the locking means is movable relative to the bar in the cases where a force is applied to the item of body jewellery or the locking means which is sufficient to overcome the friction between locking means and bar and also the bias force exerted by the insert on the bar. This prevents the skin from being torn if the item of body jewellery or the locking means should get entangled with something.

The insert advantageously comprises a through hole which contributes to defining said recess with the insert arranged in said second position. By the hole being a through hole, an increased adjusting length of the locking means relative to the bar is allowed.

The hole in the insert may have a cross-section in the form of an elongate hole. An elongate hole is advantageous since it results in increased tolerance in manufacture and mounting of the components included, while at the same time it makes the locking means more user friendly.

A duct is advantageously formed in the holder and extends through an opening formed in a front wall of the holder and at least partially into an opening formed in an opposite rear wall of the holder. Alternatively, the duct formed in the holder may extend through an opening formed in a front wall of the holder, in which case the duct contributes to defining said recess with the insert arranged in said second position. The duct and its openings contribute to defining said recess when the insert is arranged in said second position. This allows stable guiding and receiving of the bar which is adapted to extend into the locking means and be locked thereto. Depending on the geometry of the bar and the defined recess, the bar can be guided in the circumferential direction. In addition, the duct allows the locking means to be further moved relative to the bar, which results in the option of further adjustment of the free length. Moreover, a natural end position of the bar is provided, which is distinctly felt by the user.

The insert and the holder may, individually or together, form an item of jewellery.

The holder and the insert may comprise mutually complementary positioning means for orienting the insert inside the holder. This ensures that the insert is always correctly positioned relative to the holder so that their respective hole and duct together make it possible to form a recess through which an end portion of said bar can be inserted.

The insert may engage the holder by means of a snap lock function, which results in a very simple and reliable engagement between holder and insert.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an item of body jewellery comprising a locking means as claimed in any one of claims 1-13.

The item of body jewellery may comprise a bar which in its front end portion comprises an axially extending, non-rotationally symmetric cross-sectional geometry.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will in the following be described in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a currently preferred embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a complete item of body jewellery with an inventive locking means according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the holder.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the holder in two mutually perpendicular cross-sections.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the insert in two mutually perpendicular cross-sections.

FIG. 8 shows the locking means in its first position relative to an end portion of a bar.

FIG. 9 shows the locking means in its second position in engagement with an end portion of a bar.

FIG. 10 shows the locking means in its first position in cooperation with a bar with an axial bevel.

FIG. 11 shows the locking means according to FIG. 10 in its second position.

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically a bar end portion which is axially bevelled and formed with a protrusion.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a locking means with and without an inserted bar.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of an item of body jewellery 1 with the inventive locking means 2 is illustrated. The illustrated item of body jewellery 1 is particularly intended for use in a wearer's navel and comprises three main parts, viz. a bar 3, a first member 4 and a second member 5. The first member 4 consists of the inventive locking means which will be described in detail below. The second member 5 serves primarily to prevent the bar from being pulled out of a body part of the wearer and can be mounted on the bar 3, for example, by threading, gluing or soldering, but also be formed in one piece with the bar. The inventive locking means is not limited to use on the shown type of body jewellery but is generally applicable to items of body jewellery of the type that is applied to a skin portion or mucous membrane in such a manner that a first and a second end portion of the penetrating part of the item of body jewellery, usually a bar, are arranged outside the skin portion or mucous membrane.

The inventive locking means comprises two cooperating parts in the form of a holder 10 and an insert 40. The insert will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5-7. To facilitate the description, the terms front/rear and upper/lower will be used. By front end is meant the end which in a state with the locking means mounted on the bar faces the bar. By upper end is meant the end of the locking means which in use is adapted to be facing away from the pierced skin portion.

The holder 10 is shown with reference to FIG. 2. The holder 10 comprises a cup-shaped member 11 which has a front end 12 and a rear end 13.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, two cross-sections of said holder 10 are shown. The holder 10 comprises a central recess 16 which extends through the upper end 14 to a bottom 17 at the lower end 15. The central recess 16 is adapted to receive and lock the insert 40. The central recess 16 may be divided into three sections.

The upper section 18 has a geometry which at its bottom forms a radial seat 19. The seat 19 forms an engagement surface for the insert 40 when arranged in the holder 10. The seat 19 also results in the insert 40 having such a material thickness that the bar, when inserted into the locking means, obtains good guiding and stability. The rear end 13 comprises a groove 20 in its upper periphery. The groove 20 which is part of a positioning means 21 is adapted to cause guiding of the insert 40 when it is being mounted and when mounted in the holder 10.

Below the upper section 18 there is a central section 22 with a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of the upper section 18. A duct 23 extends across the central section 22. The duct 23 extends through a through opening 24 formed at the front end 12 of the holder 10, and into an opening 25 formed at the rear end 13 of the holder. The rear opening 25 can be a blind hole or a through hole. It will be appreciated that the rear opening 25 can be excluded with the function maintained, and that the duct 23 then extends merely through the front opening 24 of the holder. At least the front opening 24 preferably has a cross-section that corresponds to the cross-section of the bar. As a result, the duct 23 has a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the bar. The material of the central section 22 has such a thickness that the bar obtains good guiding and a good engagement surface when being inserted into and resting in the holder. The guiding and the engagement surface can be obtained by means of the material adjacent to the opening 24 at the front end 12 of the holder or by cooperation between the openings 24, 25 at the front end 12 and the rear end 13. It is also possible to ensure guiding merely by the cross-sectional geometry of the opening 24 at the front end 12. Below the central section 22 there is a lower section 27 which in its upper portion 28 has a diameter exceeding the diameter of the central section 22. The upper portion passes into a lower portion 29 with a smaller diameter to form a plane internal bottom 17 in the holder. The transition between the two portions 28, 29 consists of a bevel 31. The bottom 17 formed in the lower section 27 forms a seat 32 for a coil spring which is adapted to be arranged in the locking means. The coil spring is shown in FIG. 9 and designated 60.

The holder has been described above to be formed in one piece. It may also be formed in two or more pieces, for example in the form of an outer shell of metal and an inner part of injection-moulded plastic which have the above described features of the holder.

The holder 10 is adapted to accommodate and resiliently hold the insert 40. The insert 40 thus is a separate part relative to the holder 10 and is arranged to be operably received in the holder. The insert 40 which is shown in FIGS. 5-7 may be resembled to a snap fastener which can be moved inside the holder 10 between a first position in which the locking means is free to be removed from an end portion of the bar and a second position in which the holder and the insert lockingly engage the end portion of the bar.

In the embodiment shown, the insert 40 comprises an upper section 41 having a cross-sectional geometry which is complementary to the cross-section of the upper section 18 of the holder 10. The upper section 41 comprises a radial protrusion 42, see FIG. 6, which is complementary to the groove 20 in the upper section 18 of the holder 10, see FIG. 4. Thus, the radial protrusion 42 is part of said positioning means 21.

Below the upper section 41, there is a central section 43 which has such a geometry that it can pass freely through the central section 22 of the holder 10. The central section 43 of the insert 40 comprises a through hole 44 which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insert 40. The through hole 44 has a cross-sectional geometry corresponding to an elongate hole 45 whose width corresponds to or is greater than the diameter of the duct 23 in the holder 10, and in particular the diameter of the opening 24 at the front end 12 of the holder.

By cooperation between the groove 20 at the upper end 14 of the holder 10 and the radial protrusion 42 in the upper section 41 of the insert 40, a positioning means 21 is obtained, which ensures that the duct 23 with its openings 24, 25 in the holder 10 and the hole 44 in the insert 40 are always correctly oriented relative to each other.

The through hole 44 comprises at its front end an upwardly projecting hook 46, see FIG. 6. The purpose of this hook 46 will be described below.

Below the central section 43 there is a lower section 47 which, in the embodiment shown, has a frustoconical cross-section. More specifically, the lower section 47 comprises an outer peripheral flange portion 49. The flange portion 49 has on its outer circumferential surface two opposite radial protrusions 50, see FIG. 7. The outer diametrical dimension across the two protrusions 50 exceeds the inner diameter of the central section 22 of the holder 10. The flange portion 49 has such a radial thickness of material that it exhibits radial flexibility.

Inside the flange portion 49 a space 51 is formed for guiding and holding a coil spring 60, see FIG. 9, which is adapted to be arranged between the holder and the insert.

The insert 40 has been described above as a member formed in one piece. It will be appreciated that the insert with the function maintained can be formed in one or more pieces.

To form said locking means 2, said coil spring 60 is arranged in the space 51 inside the flange portion 49 of the insert 40, after which the insert 40 is pressed in place in the holder 10. Before being fastened, the insert 40 is oriented relative to the holder 10 so that the radial protrusion 42 on the upper section 41 of the insert 10 engages in the complementary groove 20 in the upper section 18 of the holder 10. This is best shown in FIG. 1. This ensures that the hole 44 in the insert 40 will be oriented correctly in alignment with the duct 23 and its openings 24, 25 in the holder 10 so as to be able to define a recess 35 through which the bar of the item of body jewellery can be inserted.

In this position, a pressure is applied to the upper surface of the insert 40, whereby the radial protrusions 50 on the flange portion 49 of the insert are guided and bent radially inwards while passing through the central section 22 of the holder so as then to spring back outwards as they reach the lower section 27 of the holder. This springing back results in a snap lock function which holds the insert 40 in place in the holder 10. The coil spring 60 is in this position biased by being pressed between the insert 40 and the bottom of the holder 10.

In the following the locking means 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 8 and 9, in cooperation with a bar 3 of an item of body jewellery 1.

When applying a pressure P to the insert 40, see FIG. 8, it is pressed down so that the lower surface of its upper section 41 abuts against the radial seat 19 in the upper section 18 of the holder 10. At the same time the coil spring 60 is compressed. For improvement of clarity, the coil spring is shown only in FIG. 9. During this pressing down, the hole 44 of the insert 40 is moved relative to the duct 23 of the holder 10 and its openings 24, 25 so as to form a recess 35 through the holder 10 and the insert 40, through which recess an end portion 80 of the bar 3 can be inserted to reach a rear end position. In the rear end position, the end portion abuts against the rear wall 13 of the holder 10, and more specifically enters the rear opening 25 of the duct 23 in the rear wall of the central section 22. Due to the movement of the insert 40 relative to the holder 10 in this position, the hook 46 which is arranged in the hole 44 of the insert 40 goes free of the end portion 80 of the bar 3. Depending on the tolerances, the movement of the insert 40 relative to the holder 10 may optionally also or alternatively be limited by the lower section 47 of the insert 40 and its frustoconical geometry engaging the lower section 27 of the holder 10 and the bevel 31 arranged therein, between the upper 28 and the lower 29 portion.

When the pressure P is relieved from the insert 40, the insert springs, by the action of the coil spring 60, back to its second position, see FIG. 9, whereby the hook 46 can move into locking engagement with one of three complementary recesses 70 which are formed in the circumferential surface of the end portion 80 of the bar 3. In the second position, the bar 3 is prevented from being pulled out of the locking means 2.

In the embodiment shown, see FIG. 9, the bar 3 comprises three recesses 70, which means that the bar can be moved relative to the locking means 2 between three different locked positions. This option of setting makes it possible for the user of the item of body jewellery having the inventive locking means to adjust the free length of the bar 3, that is the distance between the locking means 2 and the second member 5, according to the penetrating length through the user's body part. The user may also adjust the free length of the bar during the healing process.

With reference to FIG. 1, the illustrated insert 40 comprises in its upper surface recesses for mounting of seven stones. The locking means can be provided with a decoration as desired. The entire locking means or the insert 40 may be involved, or the holder 10 separately. If a different decoration is desired, the user can easily replace the locking means and thus obtain a different decoration.

The locking means may thus as such consist of an item of jewellery where the holder and/or the insert have/has been given a desired shape. The locking means and its parts are in other words not limited to the embodiment illustrated. The two parts may, for instance, be designed as two hemispheres engaging each other to form a substantially spherical locking means.

The inventive item of body jewellery 1 may comprise a bar 3 of which each end portion 80 is adapted to be provided with an inventive locking means 2. Alternatively, one of the end portions may be provided with a traditional member 5 whose main purpose is to form a stop to prevent removal of the bar in that direction when the item of body jewellery is arranged through a user's body part. The embodiment of the item of body jewellery shown in FIG. 1 comprises such a member 5 which is fixedly arranged on the bar 3.

An item of body jewellery with the inventive locking means 2 is very well suited for use in piercing. To this end, the end portion 80 on which the locking means 2 is adapted to be arranged may be prepared for mounting of a cannula. The end portion of the bar may also comprise a sharp tip which is integrated with the end portion and used for piercing. The bar shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 has an end portion 80 with a slightly smaller diameter than the remaining part of the bar to allow mounting of a cannula thereon. During piercing, the cannula and the associated bar are pressed through the user's body part that is involved, after which the cannula is removed. Of course, piercing may occur in two steps where first the cannula is pressed through the body part and then the bar is inserted into the resulting hole.

In this state, the locking means is mounted. This may take place either by the locking means being operated directly with the user's fingers or by means of a preferably sterile gripping means in the form of, for example, a pair of pliers by means of which the required pressure can be applied to the insert for pressing down the same relative to the holder. For hygienic reasons, the latter method is preferred since it allows aseptic handling without contact with the pierced area and the item of body jewellery, thus eliminating the risk of infection and transmission of infectious matter.

In the cases where the item of body jewellery with the associated locking means is intended for piercing, it is advantageous if the item of body jewellery with the associated locking means is provided in a sterile container and is arranged in such a manner as to allow aseptic handling in the piercing process.

Now referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of an item of body jewellery in cooperation with the inventive locking means is illustrated. The bar 3 of the item of body jewellery has in its front end portion 80 a non-rotationally symmetric cross-section in the form of an axially extending plane bevel 81. The bevel 81 is preferably arranged on that part of the circumferential surface of the bar 3 which is adapted to face the lower part of the insert 40 and the hook 46 arranged therein when the locking means is mounted on the bar of the item of body jewellery. The bevel 81 is preferably even but may exhibit some kind of embossing (not shown) that causes friction. The actual locking means 2 has the same design as the previously described embodiment and will therefore not be described again.

When mounting the locking means 2 on the item of body jewellery 1, a pressure P is applied to the insert 40, which thus is pressed downwards in the holder 10 so that the hole 44 of the insert 40 is moved relative to the duct 23 of the holder and its openings 24, 25 to define a recess 35 through the holder 10 and the insert 40 through which recess the end portion 80 of the bar 3 can be inserted. Due to the plane bevel 81, the user may select how far the bar 3 is to be inserted and consequently freely set the free length. A physical stop is, however, reached when the end portion of the bar reaches a rear end position, in which the end portion 80 of the bar abuts against the rear wall 13 of the holder 10. When the pressure P is relieved from the insert 40, the insert springs, by the action of the coil spring 60, back to its second position, see FIG. 11, whereby the hook 46 abuts against and exerts a pressure on the bevel 81. In this position the bar 3 is, by a combined frictional and pressing effect between the bar 3 and the hook 46, prevented from being pulled out of the locking means 2.

With this embodiment, a safety function is obtained by the locking means 2, with a load that occurs axially with the bar 3 and exceeds said friction and bias, being allowed to be moved axially along the bar. This is advantageous in the cases where the item of body jewellery or alternatively the locking means 2 should get entangled with an article of clothing for instance, whereby the engagement between locking means and item of body jewellery is released instead of the skin being torn. Another advantageous effect is that the cooperation of the bevel 81 with the hook 46 of the insert allows guiding and orientation in the circumferential direction between the locking means 2 and the item of body jewellery 1. It will be appreciated that the same effect can be achieved by the bar, instead of having a plane bevel, comprising an axially extending groove profile for cooperation with a complementary hook of the insert. It will also be appreciated that the hook, with the function maintained, may consist of a surface of the insert which extends along the longitudinal axis of the duct. In contrast to the hook which has a surface that is adapted to engage the bar and extends substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bar, such a surface of the insert extends along the longitudinal axis of the bar.

In an alternative to the above described embodiment of the bar 3, the bar may comprise, in the outermost tip of the end portion 80, a small radial protrusion 82 which projects from the bevel 81, see FIG. 12. Such a protrusion 82 increases the force that must be overcome for the locking means 4 to be pulled off of the bar in case of entanglement.

Now referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a second embodiment of the inventive locking means 2 is shown. The locking means 2 has the same fundamental construction as described above with reference to FIGS. 2-9, with the difference that the insert 40 at its front end, and more specifically adjacent to the mouth of the hole 44, comprises a wedge-shaped bevel 52 to form a larger cross-sectional area in the mouth of the hole 44.

In the second position of the locking means 2 before a pressure is applied to the insert 40, the hole 44 of the insert is oriented relative to the duct 23 of the holder 10 and at least the front opening 24 thereof in such a manner that the upper surface 44 a of the hole 44 is moved to a position above an upper surface 24 a of the front opening 24 of the duct 23. When a bar 3 is being inserted through the front opening 24 of the duct 23 in the holder 10, the end portion 80 of the bar 3 will, through a wedge action, press the insert 40 downwards while at the same time the spring 60 is compressed. During this wedge action, the insert 40 is moved downwards relative to the holder 10 so that the hole 44 of the insert and the front opening 24 of the duct 23 of the holder are axially aligned to define a recess 35 through which the bar 3 can be inserted. The bar 3 will thus apply the pressure that is necessary to move the insert 40 to the first position. In the inserted position of the bar 3, the insert 40 will, by being biased by the coil spring 60, be pressed upwards and hold the bar in place in the locking means 2. It will be appreciated that this solution is applicable regardless of the geometry of the end portion 80 of the bar 3 and regardless of whether the insert 40 is adapted to engage lockingly with the bar 3 by pure friction between the end portion of the bar and a surface of the insert which extends along the longitudinal axis of the recess and of the bar, as shown, or the insert 40 is adapted to engage lockingly with the bar 3 by means of a hook (not shown) on the insert and complementary recesses in the bar.

The bar has been described above and illustrated to be circular in cross-section. It will be appreciated that the bar may have an optional cross-section with maintained function and cooperation with the locking means. It will further be appreciated that the bar may have different cross-sections along its length. If the bar end portion which is adapted to cooperate with the locking means is non-circular in cross-section, at least that part of the duct 23 which is received in the front wall of the holder, that is the front opening 24, may have a complementary cross-section. The use of a non-circular cross-section makes it possible to prevent the locking means from being turned relative to the bar in the mounted state.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the recesses 70 in the circumferential surface of the bar 3 are complementary to the hook 46 in the insert 40, that is the recesses 70 are non-circumferential. As a result, the locking means 2 is prevented from being turned relative to the bar 3 in the mounted state, which is a great advantage if the locking means 2 is designed to be viewed in a certain direction relative to the bar 3. As an alternative solution, the bar front end which is adapted to engage respectively the locking means and the duct in the front wall of the holder may be grooved in the axial direction, whereby the bar, when inserted and in locking engagement with the locking means, is prevented from being turned relative to the same. In the cases where this is less important, or when the locking means is provided with an item of jewellery which is intended to be turntables relative to the bar, the recesses in the bar can be circumferential.

Instead of recesses in the circumferential surface of the bar and one or more complementary hooks in the insert, an alternative solution may involve that the bar front end which is adapted to engage respectively the locking means and the duct in the front wall of the holder may have an uneven, for example cross-knurled surface, and the insert may be provided with a complementary uneven surface, for example cross-knurled. Also with such a design of the bar and the insert, the locking means can be locked in the longitudinal direction of the bar and be prevented from turning relative to the bar.

Depending on the desired design of the item of body jewellery, the locking means can, within the scope of the invention, be formed with a through recess, that is the openings 24, 25 in the holder 10 can be through holes, whereby the bar can be passed through the locking means.

In the described locking means, the insert 40 is spring biased by means of a coil spring 60, see for example FIG. 9. It will be appreciated that also other types of spring action can be used.

It will be appreciated that the above described positioning means is only one possible embodiment and that it can be arranged in various ways.

In the embodiments described above, the insert is illustrated to be operable in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the recess and a bar inserted therein. It will be appreciated that this need not be the case and that the insert with the function maintained can be adapted to be operated in a direction that makes an angle to the longitudinal axis of the recess and a bar inserted therein.

The item of body jewellery and the locking means and in particular the parts thereof that are adapted to be in contact with the user's body part are advantageously made of titanium or medical quality plastic. However, it will be appreciated that also other materials can be used. A locking means intended for an item of body jewellery and an item of body jewellery comprising such a locking means have been described above. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the shown embodiment. Several modifications and variants are conceivable and consequently the invention is defined exclusively by the appended claims. 

1. A locking mechanism adapted to constitute part of an item of body jewellery (1), comprising a holder (10) having at least one opening (24, 25) to be passed by an end portion (80) of a bar (3) of said item of body jewellery (1) and, separately arranged therefor, an insert (40) received in the holder and having a hole (44), which insert is operable relative to the holder between a first and a second position by applying a pressure to the insert; the opening (24, 25) of the holder (10) and the hole (44) of the insert (40) in said first position together defining a recess (35), into which said end portion (80) of a bar (3) of said item of body jewellery (1) is insertable; and the holder (10) and the insert (40) in said second position cooperating with said end portion (80) for locking the same when inserted in the recess (35).
 2. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert (40) is spring biased towards its second position.
 3. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert (40) comprises at least one hook (46) for engaging said end portion (80).
 4. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 3, in which the hook (46) is arranged for locking engagement in recesses (70) that are complementary to the hook and arranged in said end portion (80).
 5. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 4, in which the hook (46) is arranged for aligning engagement with said recesses (70) that are complementary to the hook.
 6. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which said end portion comprises an axially extending bevel.
 7. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which a through hole (44) is arranged in the insert, which hole contributes to defining said recess (35) with the insert arranged in said second position.
 8. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which said hole (44) in the insert (40) has a cross-section in the form of an elongate hole (45).
 9. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which a duct is formed in the holder, said duct (23) extending through an opening (24) formed in a front wall (12) of the holder and at least partially into an opening (25) formed in an opposite rear wall (13) of the holder, and which duct contributes to defining said recess (35) with the insert arranged in said second position.
 10. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which a duct is formed in the holder, said duct (23) extending through an opening (24) formed in a front wall (12) of the holder, and said duct contributing to defining said recess (35) with the insert arranged in said second position.
 11. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert (40) and the holder (10) individually or together form an item of jewellery.
 12. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the holder (10) and the insert (40) comprise mutually complementary positioner (21, 20, 42) for orienting the insert inside the holder.
 13. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the insert (40) engages the holder (10) by snap locking.
 14. (canceled)
 15. An item of body jewellery as claimed in claim 1, in which the item of body jewellery comprises a bar (3) which in its front end portion comprises an axially extending, non-rotationally symmetric cross-sectional geometry.
 16. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 2, in which said end portion comprises an axially extending bevel.
 17. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 3, in which said end portion comprises an axially extending bevel.
 18. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 4, in which said end portion comprises an axially extending bevel.
 19. A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 5, in which said end portion comprises an axially extending bevel. 